Neglected by Dispur, Assam villagers merge with Aruchal Pradesh

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

MARGHERITA, May 10: As many as 100 villagers in Honju village located around 10 kilometers away from Tipong Colliery under Lekhapani Police Station of Margherita constituency in Tinsukia district along Assam-Aruchal Pradesh border have reportedly merged with the Aruchal Pradesh Government recently due to the alleged negligence of the Assam Government towards the development of the village.

The villagers alleged that neither the Central Government nor the Assam Government have given any importance for the development of the village.

Villagers here have been waiting for years with the hope that the Assam government will, someday, give them electricity connection, drinking water connection and pucca roads but the Assam Government allegedly has not done anything for providing these basic amenities to the villagers, which led them to decide to merge with the Aruchal Pradesh Government, sources said.

There are 18 voters in Honju village and total number of population in the village is 100.  The people of the village belong to Tangsa community.

Sources various tural resources like coal, wood are abundantly available in the village. Not only that, the village is home to various birds and different species of wild animals. Sources said the village was set up around 200 years back.

Sources said even the villagers live in the territory of Assam, they don’t vote in Assam election. “Instead Assam, the villagers cast their votes in Aruchal Pradesh. Their mes have been included in the voter list of Aruchal Pradesh,” sources added.       

Even though there is an LP School under Assam Government the only teacher of the school rarely goes to the school as as result the students have suffered a lot.

Meanwhile, the Aruchal Pradesh Government has now provided some basic amenities such as water supply, sanitation, and electricity.

Sources said the inhabitants of Honju village do not identify themselves as the people of Assam but feel proud to tell as them as Aruchalee.

Concerned people have blamed Margherita MLA Pradyut Bordoloi for merger of the villagers with Aruchal Pradesh.

“As an MLA, Bordoloi has not taken any steps for the development of the village as a result of which the villagers have merged with Aruchal Pradesh,” a concerned people told The Sentinel.  When contacted, Margherita SDO(c) Mr Sanjeeb Kumar Barhoi said that an enquiry has been ordered to probe the matter.  “Mr Jagadish Brahma, Election Officer of Margherita will investigate the matter,” he said.